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I at least got a flash of his crooked
smile again. His hair looked so smooth, he was close enough
I could touch it. It fell around his face when he bowed his
head. He looked up at me and put his hand through his hair, still
smiling and said “Let's start over.... Addie I would like
to know if you'd like to go out with me sometime, soon.”

That’s all I remember really, the next thing
I know and to my surprise I was giving him my number, again. I
don’t remember talking to him or what he may have said after that,
but before the bell rang I had given him my number sincerely.

I slid off my stool and started collecting my
things. “Holy Crap! I was asked out!” I whispered
to Nic. “I think, and by a gorgeous guy!” He was the first boy
to ask for my number in High School and he was hot and popular - I
have not been asked out all that much before. I hoped I did okay –
I looked at Nic as I was packing up my stuff, “What just
happened.”

She looked at me and laughed and said “You've
gotta date!”

I laughed, “Really when?” My face must
have been flush because I felt very warm.

“What did I say to him?”

“You were your usual cute self.”

“So I didn't drool or
anything.”

“No spit hanging out of your mouth at the
time.”

“Good, did he really ask me out?
Did I give him my correct phone number? Holy crap
- I wonder if he'll actually call.” I said in a hurried
whisper.

“I'll see you in Home
Ec” Nic chuckled as she walked out the door and down the
stairs and I went the other way. The bell rang.

As I headed down the hall to my next
class, someone put their hand on my right shoulder
so I grabbed it and pulled it down by my side, pulling
them next to me. “So you do like me” Cale said.

“Crap” I said throwing his hand out
of mine. “You scared me, don't sneak up on me like that!” My
heart was racing.

“You grabbed my hand.” he said sweetly.

“Well I thought you were someone
else.”

“Who else were you going to hold hands with?”
he asked as I picked up the pace.

“No one, look I'm going to be
late.” My heart was still pounding. I started to turn
into my class then stopped and turned to face him. “What
can I do for you?” I asked as nicely
as I could. He backed me up against the wall put one hand
on it, boy is he tall. He's definitely at least six foot tall
or taller. He leaned in closer placed his mouth down by my ear and
whispered, holding out the peace of paper I gave him in
between us. “Is this your real number?” As he whispered in my
ear, I felt chills go all the way down my spine, I tried
ignoring it. I closed my eyes and breathed him in. He
smelled clean, like fresh air with a bit of evergreen. I tried to
bring myself back to reality, he sounded serious, he thinks I lied
to him. 

I opened my eyes, straightened up a bit,
looked him in the eyes, took the piece of paper from his hand with
my left and put my right on his chest backing him up a little. I
looked at it and said “Yes, of course this is my real
number.” I gave him a crooked smile back.
“I actually hadn't even thought about giving out a fake number
to you or anyone else for that matter. Good idea though. I'll
have to keep that in mind for the next guy.”

“I hope you don’t give your phone number out
to anyone else, at least until you give us a chance,” he
replied.

Pretending to ignore his response I said “I
also labeled my number with my correct name so you don’t confuse it
with the other numbers you've collected.”

He laughed. “Why are you giving me such a
hard time?” 

“Well, I am sarcastic and
besides, I'm sure no one else does, gives you a hard time that
is.” 

I hope we are done
here, I didn't say it, I wanted to but I didn't want
to mess it up any more than I already may have. He breathed
in, and exhaled, he put his hand on my flaming cheek and said “All
right, but know this, I
will
call you Addie
Gellar.” My face was so hot and his hand felt ice cold but I
bet it was normal, in any case I felt every one of his fingers
pressed lightly on my cheek. I got to watch him walk
away.

I sat down next to Storm
like I did every day because we had assigned seating, he
gave me a dirty look and we didn't speak the whole class nor did he
look at me again. I wonder why he’s mad at me this time… What
do I care if he ignores me, he's dating
what’s-her-face and now I may have a date!

I was excited up 'til third period, but
realized Cale might not call and if he did maybe he just wanted to
see if he could get 'lucky' as the saying goes. I decided to be in
a good mood regardless. Until, I thought about being
alone with him and only him and then about
that
night and
had a flashback. I started feeling very uneasy my
chest tightened up and I could feel my eyes start to
tear. Shelby looked at me and mouthed, “A
re you
okay?”
 I nodded my head; think of something positive,
diving, swimming, golfing. I thought of my cousin Peyton
and some of our escapades, I started to feel a little better
and decided I wouldn't go out with him. I can't, I'm
a mess. I thought I had nerves of steel, but I guess not.

In Home Ec, Nic declared that if he
wanted to date me I should take the chance and see what happens. I
just told her “We'll see.”

The next day in Algebra,
Shelby caught my attention. She was sitting in the same seat as
the day before. In my confusion and out of
nowhere I asked her straight out “Are you dating
Storm?” Shelby confessed she
was and sleeping with him, that she couldn’t get
enough of him. She said she couldn't help herself that’s all she
wanted was sex, sex, sex, and then she laughed. She talked a lot
and fast, but seemed very nice. Storm was dating a nympho,
great. I wonder why he has been so hot and cold with me all the
time. “Storm's not talking to me again, is he in a bad mood or
what?” I asked point blank.

“He was fine
when I saw him before first period. I'll ask him at
lunch.” Shelby said. I realized I really didn't
care, I went from extremely happy yesterday to nervous
and confused, her conversation was a great distraction
and I didn't need to say much to get her to
talk.

After English I had gym, as
I was walking there I saw Cale, I almost froze, but then kept on
walking. Should I stop and say “Hi”, should I wave, hell no. I'll
put my head down, walk fast and pretend I don’t see him, maybe he
won't notice me. I’ll just walk quickly and see if I can fly right
by him. I averted my eyes and kept walking… I passed him and
was almost ready to turn the corner when I heard someone shout
”Addie!” I jerked when I heard my name and slowed but kept walking,
please don’t be Cale.

I heard “Addie!”
again. I stopped and turned, it was six foot, sandy brown
haired, sexy crooked smiling Cale. I smiled
back, “Hey! Wow, nice to see you,
am I lucky.”

He flashed his bright
whites. “Topher and I are thinking about going to a
movie Friday night, talk to Nic and see if she wants to
go, we can make it a double date.” He started walking backward and
said “I'll call you later.” Storm checked him with his
shoulder as he walked past, glared at me and mumbled something to
me about blocking the way and hit the gym door open.

I walked into the
girl’s locker room and grabbed a locker in the first row, we hadn't
been assigned permanent lockers yet, and who popped up beside
me but Shelby. She was wearing super skinny jeans that were skin
tight; when she took them off they left an impression of the
inseam all the way down her leg. She started talking, she said
still talking a mile a minute “Storm’s in a good mood and he said
he didn't know what I you were talking about. He can
be moody.” As we were walking into the gym she told me that
Storm transferred into our gym class so that they could have a
class together. I rolled my eyes, she didn't see, great I get his
moody ass in two of my classes.

She confessed she knew
that Storm and I dated and that he had talked
about me before and was glad to finally meet me. That she knew he
still had feelings for me before they started dating. I was
shocked; I assured her that we only dated in eighth grade
and that we weren't serious at all. “Plus, I have a date with
Cale Winters.” I told her.

“Cale Winters!” she screamed
in the hallway grabbing my arm, it echoed and since we were by the
entrance of the gym I could see all the boys look up, they heard.
Great.

Shelby and I were becoming
friends. She was different, eccentric but nice. We got paired into
four groups, Storm ended up in mine and Shelby in another. He came
right up to me and said “Nice to see you've become such a
slut!”

I was startled, where did
this come from? I turned to him “Where do you get off calling me
names, you don't know me, we don't even talk! What do you know
about me? Nothing! We dated in eighth grade for what two days, you
know nothing!” I said under my breath with my teeth gritted “You're
dating Shelby and she’s a….” I didn’t finish that sentence. “I
haven’t dated anyone since you and you're calling me a slut!
Don’t you think you should wait until I’ve had sex with someone
before you go around calling me… that?” I had started in a lower
tone but my volume grew. I put my finger down took a deep
breath hoping no one else was listening and said “You know what,
we're not friends, don't speak to me again.”

I walked over to Shelby's
group as the gym teacher was yelling at me to go back to my group.
I told Shelby “Storm wants us to switch.”

I'll be glad when this day
is over.

That night after
dinner, I was washing the dishes when the
phone rang and my mom answered, she talked for a while I heard
her giggle and then she called me to the phone. She put her hand
over the receiver, but you know that never works –
whoever is on the other end can still hear. “Cale is on the
phone he would like to take you out this Friday, I told him you
were available!” She said way too enthusiastically, like she had
doubts I would ever find a boyfriend, and handed me the phone. Of
course I was mortified. “I go to the football games on
Friday’s mom.” I told her smartly.

I got on the phone and said
“Hi!” With a little bit of attitude but ended up having a very
pleasant conversation. I told him how Nic and I usually
go to the Friday night football games but he said
he and Topher already picked the show, however, if I
really wanted to go to the game we could. He asked if
I talked to Nic about going on
Friday and I told him I hadn't. He seemed a little
shocked.

“I'll ask her in Art class
tomorrow.”

“You aren't going to call
her now, talk to her and then call me back tonight? I thought you'd
be a little more excited.”

“Too many phone calls for
me.” I said “I didn't have a very good day today. I'm going to do
my homework and go to bed.”

Cale interrupted “...and
finish doing the dishes?”

“How did you know I was
doing the dishes?” There was a slight pause some rustling and he
replied “I can hear you through the phone.” I dismissed
it.

“Can we talk
tomorrow or would you rather not be seen talking to me in
public.” I felt his hesitation to answer because I was being
spiteful and for no reason, at least not to him.

“I guess you did have a bad
day, the morning will be fine. I'll talk to you tomorrow.” Click. I
hope I didn't make him mad. I am exhausted and can't even think
about it right now. As I got off the phone my mom came in the
kitchen to tell me how polite Cale was and that she really liked
him and looked forward to meeting him. And then she announced she
and my brother were going to the store for milk and that my
dad and sister should be home any minute.

I really did just want to
finish the dishes, do my homework and go to bed. I was tired
of talking, tired of thinking and just a little
irritated.

As the sink was emptying, I
heard a noise just outside the kitchen window. I became absolutely
still, my mind and heart began to race, waiting to hear the noise
again. My heart was pounding so hard I wasn't sure I could hear
anything else over it. I saw something go by my window out of the
corner of my eye! Did my mom close the garage door, was the patio
door locked?

There should only be so much
horror a person should have to experience in a lifetime, or in my
case, a year. I felt a little light-headed. I – will - not - be –
afraid - I - am - not - afraid. If someone comes close I'll hit him
with this...I looked around.... grabbed a frying pan from the sink,
I'll hit him with this pan and then I'll run out the front door I
told myself. Since my incident this summer, I’m always thinking on
the morbid side of things. I imagine someone jumping out and
attacking me and then I find myself pre-planning what to do in
every scenario, when I get a little startled, feel anxious about a
situation, or hear a noise I shouldn't have, a little like
now.

My heart still racing I
checked all the windows to make sure they were locked and then
walked slowly over to the sliding door, opening my basement door on
the way, another possible escape route. We had a ranch house with a
full walk-out basement that had full windows and doors on the
backside of the house. In the front middle was a living and dining
room, behind them lie the kitchen and eating area connected by a
short hallway and a door to the basement. Off the eating area,
where I am now, is a sliding door connecting a two story deck.
Below the deck is a storage shed. The kids had rooms on the right
side of the house and our parents the left.